50TH BIRTHDAY CARD!

Hi all! Sorry it has been a week since I dropped in. We have been totally crazy busy around here. I just wanted to show you a little Happy 50th I just made for my aunt. I love Amy Butler papers and realized I hadn't used any in a while. So here they are. I was hooping around the blogs and saw this fun little flower being made and wanted to make some. I changed the sizes a bit but they are a lot of fun. And then ofcourse the bling. I love having those fun and shiny elements to add to things don't you.

And then there is this picture I must add. My husband is having a ton of fun playing in the yard with the tractor and yes I think his tractor is Sexy for you country music fans. It is like he is a kid in a giant Tonka Toy. Should he have been a farmer instead of a Electrican? Maybe, but I like to say I have my own personnal landscaper. I just wish he would wear a pair of tighter jeans while he worked!

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New Thinking of You Card!

Hey all! Here is another fun idea I came up with to use my stickers. This card design is so easy to do but really gives you a great result. I started by taking the middle paper in the sandwich and punching out the three 1" circles. Then I took the top layer and turned it over. I traced the circles on to the back of the top layer and used the scalloped 1 1/4" punch. It makes it really easy to eyeball the sizing and placement this way. Then I wrapped around the ribbon and and connected them to the card itself.

I used a complimentary paper from the set so it really went well together. Once again the back looks as good as the front and it has a great clean finish. Then the very last thing was to stick the stickers in the 3 circle punched on the front and it is all done. What do you think? I would love to hear from you!

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Birds of a Feather Celebrate Birthday's Together

So here is some inspiration for everyone today. I have been trying to build up some special cards for the upcoming birthdays of 2010. I can't stand when I am walking out the door and there is no handmade card in hand. See it is my own fault. I have been making cards along with many other projects for so long that people come to expect it and I think that I should live up to that expectation don't you.

This one is more for a adult. The picture doesn't totally show the shine to this card. On much of the black on the bird I layered the liquid glass to give some more dimension to it. I love the combo of colors. I make a bunch of bright happy colors for many of my birthday cards but it is nice sometimes to have a stronger more masculine set of colors. I also rolled the edges of the double sided paper flowers so they gave a pop out look. Also on the flowers, which you really can't tell in the picture, I used the liquid glass on the tan areas. It pulls the eye over the front of the card while leaving the bird the dominate feature. I hope you all enjoy it and make it a great Tuesday!

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This is for sure a girl holiday. The great day of love many refer to as Valentine's Day is truly just a excuse for us to use PINK. I love pink and all of the fun that goes along with it. Here is my daily dose of pink for this time of year. And here is how I made it....

• Start with a 5 x 5 base card(5x10 before folded)
• 4 Similar papers that are 2 1/4 x 2 1/4
• Edge them each with Metallic Gold and round one corner
• Layered nesting hearts on chipboard and more Metallic on edges
• Tape runner embellishment to card and add words

As far as the letters I used for love. They are foam stickers that where black but I wanted them to blend in a little more to the color scheme. So out came my trusty paints and everything matches beautifully!

Now as far as this little toss in. It was 2:00pm eastern time and the house was VERY, VERY FREE OF SOUND. This is not normal when all four of them are home from school. So I looked around downstairs and there was no one. I made my way up stairs and still no sounds. Until I opened our bedroom door and all of my little friends, along with their pillows, where watching a movie together. WOW this is the kind of stuff pictures are made of. So I grabbed the camera to mark this moment in history. And this is what I am thankful for today!

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A CARD IN SECONDS!

Alright everyone, this one is quick and simple and not a lot of items are involved to create it. Not only as a Valentine, but think of the color changes you can make and embellishments and it turn into a quick birthday card. With some left over textured card stock this card was completed in minutes. It measures 4 1/2" 's square.

Here are the few products I used to complete it. If you haven't already purchased a Souffle Pen what are you waiting for? It is yummy and puffs up as it dries and can be used for so many things. I do go over my lines twice when I use it on such dark paper. Some times it comes out a little watered down. I also start it out on a separate paper to make sure it is flowing once I use it. Then there is my FABULOUS CONVERSATION HEARTS! This time of year I am using and selling these little guys like crazy so make sure you pick them up today!

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Are You Customer That Wants Free Shipping?

Hi all! I wanted to stop by and show you one of my latest sets of stickers. These are perfect for the lover of winter in your life. They are so much darn fun and you will love them on your envelopes and projects this winter season.

And I hope now one has forgotten....

FREE SHIPPING ON MY NEW ARTFIRE STORE!

Yes, my new Artfire store is up and running. To thank all of my many customers I am giving free shipping as my gift from me to you. So by the stickers and embellishments while they're hot and the shipping is free!

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SNOWFLAKE BOX AND CHRISTMAS CARD

Well here I go again with one of my new favorite things to use when creating. I have a tone of clothing patterns. When you look at things for a different use it can really turn out great. Many times with backgrounds it is very hard to find just he right paper. Especially for someone that loves to use tans, ivory, and cream and they don't exist to your liking. Patterns to the rescue. It is totally thin. It wrinkles perfectly and it adds a great addition of dimension to your project. And don't get me started on the way it takes ink.

On this snowflake gift box, I used some fabulous die cut snowflakes to decorate with. And here is how simple it was...

1. Put glue on the areas that I wanted the pattern paper to stick to.
2. Scrunched up the pattern paper then partially smoothe it over the areas with the glue
3. If you did not tear enough off just add a small piece to cover the box(it all melts together and you can not see the patched areas, plus it adds a great color effect.)
4. I took a brown ink pad and and gently went over the paper to only highlight the wrinkles.
5. Glue down the snowflakes making sure to go off the edges with them (this gives a much more pleasing and natural look.)

Make a matching tag and tie it on!

You now have a great simple gift box for the holiday season. I think packaging is key to a wonderful present. Simple backed goods can be brought up to a whole new level with great packaging. Below you can see close up the great effect you get from using the clothing pattern paper.

This next card as well was so simple, but with adding the music paper as garland you get something a little extra special. I cut out all of the card stock and inked the edges. Next I die cut the tree and added some glue where I wanted the garland to stick down. Gave a little "back and forth fold" to the music paper and held it down a minute until the glue dried a bit. So simple and so pretty. Hard to see in the picture but I added some great crackle to the star to stand out more. And there you have it. Another simple and fun card made in minutes. The longest part of this one is the crackle dry time.

The cardstock for both projects can be found at BRAMBLEBERRY LANE!

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HERE COMES THE NEW CHRISTMAS LINE OF STICKERS!

Well here they are. Some of my new Holiday Stickers for Christmas 2009. The colors are rich and I just know you will enjoy them. The red sheet music can really be used all year long but what a great accent to those gold envelopes.

The Ice Skates are one of my favorite sets. There is glitter on the skate blades. They have a really fun old fashion feel. This is the perfect snowflake blue for the back round. Once again the colors are strong so they will stand out.

And these mittens make me feel all warm and fuzzy even on a really hot day. They feature some great bling with glitter on the blue mittens. These will be a fab addition to your stash.

And last but not least, this years addition of Peppermint Candy. Last years where so popular and I was afraid I was not going to have as great of a pattern to go with but I am in love with these. A strong red is hard to find but this one delivers. The backgrounds go from off white to white so you will love every moment of these little hard candies!

So please enjoy all of these new latest and greatest holiday stickers from Brambleberry Lane. Keep and eye out for a couple more as well. You know I can't stop my self!

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ATC/ACEO ROUNDER DIVIDERS FOR THE SEASONS!

Oh how I love creating ACEO/ATC's. So as I am getting ready to fill a new rounder of fun things that I have created, I realized they all pretty much go by the seasons. So that is why I made these four dividers. I love to tell a story with one little ATC. Many people pass thru here and are able to take a quick look at what we are up to rather then 12 pictures of how cute the baby is riding his bike. Or Morgan in the play, just one will do to tell her story. A photo on front and a little journaling on back and bing bam boom it is all done.

The reason for the seasons really stems from the colors of paper used to document the time of year as well as the event attended. I have mixed a combination of die cut letters, stamped and hand written letters. As much as I hate my own hand writing, it is not so much for me. It is for that person 2 or 3 generations from now that get a peek into who their relative was. I know, I know how much you truly don't like your own hand writing. But down the road it will be a way for another generation to feel a bit of attachment to the past. Example time...My grandfather(my dads father) built the field stone fireplace in the home I grew up in with his own two hands. There was a piece of one of those stones that was out and I have kept it with me ever since we moved. It sits here on top of my computer screen. This is a man that passed away before I was born, but I have something I know for sure he laid is hands on. Connection is important I think. And a strong family is built on connections. Isn't this why we scrapbook in the first place, so we can connect with our pasts. So from my rock to your memories, always leave at least some journaling for the future generations to enjoy.

When ever I create dividers for my rounders, I like to make them a little bigger then the normal 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. So what I do is start with the 2.5 x 3.5 as a base and then add to it to plump it up. The SPRING 09 card I added a orange card stock to and then fringed it with scissors to give dimension.

The SUMMER one I added rounded corners to the back layer and stamped the letters on curves.

FALL is my favorite time of year. I love, love, love the colorsof autumn so I kept it simple so they would shine and layered multiple solid colored textured cardstock. With this one I used my FAV Souffle pen in white to mark the season.

And finished this all up with WINTER. Lots of glitter here. I love doing snowflakes in blues and whites. But here I did snowflakes with some more of the traditional Christmas colors to account for the winter as well as the holiday.

Anywho, just some fun ways to make your ATC/ACEO rounder flow as well as being able to sort out the year!

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NEW PAPER IS HERE!

Yes, I do know how fabulous this new set is. On top of it all there are 30 papers in the set. I have a darn cute little chipboard house I am going to cover with these. Then I have these cute little Medicine bottles and Keys that have been lasor die cut and I am going to use these as the background for a little art work. I love the one with the tower on it. I am a big Paris theme fan. Any who, here is the next great set...

It is so summery(is that a word) that I can't wait to use it not only for a cute little scrapbook but I am going to adhere it to the frame of a cork board for my office for sum bright inspiration. Once again there are 30 in this set as well. I will be listing two more great sets later today so enjoy these pretties for now!

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FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING ON THE LANE

SWEET SPRING LAYERED FLOWERS

The flowers are a bloomin here at Brambleberry Lane. I love making layered flowers. They give that extra something to the page while keeping you interested with dimension. I layer these tasty little nibblets with a cute little crystal brad that gives them that extra shine. They are sure to catch your eye.

The first set pictured above, is perfect for spring and summer. The wonderful greens and yellows are made to pop with the addition of orange. I love anything orange with summer lay outs.

LAYERED FLOWERS WITH THAT VINTAGE LOOK

This next set will work great with anything that you want to add that vintage look to. Maybe you are doing a western theme and want to add a bit of dimension. These are perfect because there is nothing too girly about these flowers. I know you will love them.

NEW LA CREME CARDSTOCK SET

I have been waiting for these beautiful papers that where back ordered on me. They are 6 x 6 and there are 24 different patterns of black and cream to off white. They even feature some great flocking. I am sure you will be happy with these as well. Oh and yes they are card stock weight!

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WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH WHITE CHIPBOARD?

Well I have been trying to think of new things that would make everyone want to create. That really has been a mission of mine for a long time. I walk into a craft store and think."oh yes I can". But then I go and teach a scrapbooking class and I find these people that have never had

that rush of feeling and thought that you must go home and create something fabulous. So to help the masses this is what I do. Find one thing and turn it into another so you can try too. So before Christmas, when all of my power outage problems where going on, I was delivered a package of white chipboard that I had ordered. It was the last thing on my mind at the time with the weather and holiday's causing confusion and delay with my schedule. But now that the holiday fog has lifted, lets do it! So yesterday we started with the white chipboard ATC's and maybe by the end of the day you will find some more chipboard fun. I know you are excited.

As far as inspiration is concerned, have you ever just tried copying. I know you die hard scrappers out there get a ton of Scrapbooking Mags. Why not try to copy one of those great layouts and make it your own. Do the sketch thing. Just draw the layout on paper and change the colors to the papers you have on hand. Don't waist what you have already purchased, use it and love it. And once again I will tell you to "TRY ATC'S". I promise you will love how quick and easy it is to finish something!

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~P.S. DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE VALENTINE GIVEAWAY. JUST LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND YOU WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN!

Fair Time is Upon Us!

Well we live in the area of the Fair Grounds and are we ever excited. It is so much fun getting ready with all of the kids entries to be judged. This year is Logans(4) first year to enter something. And what can a 4 year old do totally on his own? Plant Sunflowers. They are over 10ft tall outside the back deck and they are a incredible learning tool for a small child. They take this small seed and put it in the ground and from it comes this Giant of a flower. Sure you could do this with any plant, but a sunflower is so big that they really get a sense of what is possible. Last year was the first time he planted them and then the birds came and ate the seeds all fall. He then learned that from his actions he was able to feed someone else. He was so amazed and could not wait until this past spring to plant again. So we dropped off his 3 Stems, 3 Flowers, 3 Leaves. This is what they describe in the book for the rules of what you bring. I gave him one of my old blue mason jars and he carried them in with pride. He watched the woman put them up on the shelf to be judge. And now he waits. Will he get a ribbon? I don't even think it matters. The look on his face as he watched that jar of flowers go up onto the shelf was totally worth it.

On the side of the biz look for some new flash cards as well as different Christmas combos. Can you smell Autumn in the air? We sure can and boy am I having fun with some great new products on the way. I am still in a holding pattern for back orders from some of the paper companies, but there are a couple that will be worth the wait.

Don't forget to leave a comment on the 8/23 posting for a chance at all that great free stuff!

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WHO LOVES FREE STUFF??????

Everyone that leaves a comment on this post will be entered to win this really great prize pack. To have a chance at winning, you just need to click the link to...

http://www.brambleberrylane.etsy.com/

Then, leave a comment on which item is your favorite. One week from tonight I will announce the winner of this great prize pack.

So leave me a comment and I may be sending you these fun items!

...It's Whats In The Middle That Counts...

One of the lines from "Hope Floats" I love that movie. I love any movie that stirs emotion in me. That makes me feel something on a Sunday afternoon all curled up on the couch that I didn't expect until I was flip flopping threw stations and land on a chick flick! My point is I think this is true, you know about the middle being what counts. I remember the moment I laid eyes on all four of my kids for the first time. I remember being out to dinner with my girlfriend Brenda when I first saw my husband walk in that door after not seeing him in 15 years. They where all incredible moments. But it is what is happening know that counts the most I think. I realized last night as I was sitting in a parent meeting that my little chubby checked girl was starting high school and this little family will some day not all be under the same roof. Child number 3 (Mr. Logan) will be starting pre k and it will just be me and Noah. Everyone keeps telling me how much I will be able to get done during the day with one less person to take care of. I am not sure that is a good thing. Now don't get me wrong. When my nest is empty I am not going to put on a ugly bathrobe and curl up in a corner. I love adventure and I love life so I shall turn that page and try all of those things that need my attention that are on my list. But that won't mean that I will miss any less the daily..."mom where's my"...or..." mom she took my". I actually love those things. I heard a mom last night complaining that she had to do something for her kids. I totally see where she is coming from because we are all stretched so far now, but they don't need to know that. They don't need to take on our trouble with theirs. So lets all give these little people a great middle. Lets give them what childhood should be. Fun, relaxing and a adventure. They have enough to handle between divorce, self-image and friends. And lets realize that they are still kids at 10, 14, 17 and stop treating them like adults.

Well now that I have been on my parenting soap box it is time to get on with the day and new ventures. I am in the middle of seeing how thin I can spread my self while still keeping a smile on my face. How about you? Do you know what those handmade Christmas tags are going to look like? How about those Christmas cards you always swear you are going to make. Here is a thought for you. Instead of trying to make 30 or 50 handmade cards why not make 10 for those people really close to you. The ones that it does matter what they think like a dear friend or your parents. Don't try to take on a war just win a small battle and you will feel great about it!

I LOVE THE VINTAGE THING!!!

So, I started listing some of these today. I am in love with them because the images are so great. As it explains in the listing, mom gave me some old children's books. I wasn't sure at first what to do with them. I was torn so I did nothing. But looking for something they turned up. I started using my template and moving it around the pages to see what 1" would get me. I am in love. I like when things I make make me happy. I can be proud of that little glimmer that flies in one side of the brain and out my hands. I hope you guys like them too. For the most part these will all be one of a kind sets. All of the old torn books are singles so if you like them you better get them before they are gone. I will add a couple new ones here and there. I need to get some other things photographed and listed but mister battery died in the camera so no more new picture until Tuesday when the new battery is picked up.

On a personal note, this week my Logan will turn 4 years old. I have enjoyed every minute that I have been blessed with each of my children. But this birthday marks the change of many things. For one he will be going to Pre-K in the fall. As well as he will be spreading the most incredible set of wings to fly and with Logan you just know he will soar as high as possible by man. There is something special about the way that Logan looks at everyday. He is that person that was brought into my life for a reason. The reason was to keep me grounded yet be able to find my own set of wings again. There is a song by Rascal Flats "Broken Road". It is meant to be a love song. But it really does apply to Logan. God Bless The Broken Road, That Led Me Straight To You. Yup, he was the child that 10 years ago you could never made me believe I was going to have someday. I wondered when Mo got sick and other things went south, could anything ever be incredible again. It was the moment I thought I was pregnant with Logan. He turned the hope back on in my heart and for that I will always be grateful to him. The funny thing is he doesn't even know he has done that for his mom. He calls me "MY SWEET ANGEL", but that is truly what he is to me!

CREATE SOMETHING FABULOUS TODAY!!!